Big Five / Little Five Lakes Loop

Lower Monarch Lake sits astride a classic contact zone between volcanic material and solid granite. Somewhere up there is a dam on upper Monarch Lake, which was used in mining.

Monarch Lakes

Big 5, Little 5 Lakes Loop and Sawtooth Pass, August 4th to 7th, 2000.

The lower lake was actually very nice with its grass lawns and wildflowers. I dropped my pack on a grassy spot, got out my chair and sat down for some lunch. It was sunny and warm, the surroundings were beautiful, and it was an ideal Sierra day. I was in no hurry. The worst of the hiking was over, and the rest was just a trail slog. By now, there were no shortages of people as more and more of them arrived. I had passed those who began their day at the lake, and now those starting their day from the trailhead were just now arriving at the lake.